[Ortali] This intense and fascinating series made for PBS shows the life aboard the USS Nimitz during a six-month tour of duty. Although now is perhaps not the greatest time to air the series, it would be jumping to conclusions to think that "Carrier" is a rah-rah endorsement of war and war machines. In reality, the show is entirely neutral in its portrayal of the ups and downs, daily grind, and very personal stories of the ship and its 5,000 occupants. If you have a problem with military personnel being given a voice and a face, then perhaps this is not the show for you. However, if you put your judgments aside, this series can be one huge eye-opening experience. Sure, there are moments when a sailor will express a nationalistic attitude, but this is rarely the case. Yeoman Shaneka McReed says; "I don't get why we're fighting for someone else's freedom when we don't barely have our own"...and this sentiment echoed throughout the crew, from the fighter pilots on down to the culinary staff. I have always had a personal fascination with the sea and seagoing life, and "Carrier" does not disappoint in its portrayal of life at sea. It shows all of the various tasks on the ship...things that I had no idea existed. Horrible, back-breaking work that the sailors take pride in and do to the best of their ability. I have learned so much already in the 4 hours I have viewed; that most sailors make less than minimum wage per hour, that a fighter pilot's helmet costs $60,000, that the US navy is eco-friendly, that sailors, when on leave, are allowed to wear civilian clothing. "Carrier" is also beautifully filmed and edited, and has an amazing soundtrack. All of these things, along with the crew's narrative, suck you in and hold your attention easily for the entirety of each episode. It would be no exaggeration to say that I think "Carrier" is one of the best things I have ever seen on television. Please give it a chance and watch; in this day and age, it may be one of the few truly enlightening experiences ever offered on television.